Why Is Religion Important?

1005 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Religions impact on the modern world

"This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness."

-- Dalai Lama

In a world where religions plays such a major role in people’s lives, it is not surprising why it is such a major focus in the way choices and decisions are made. There are many religions throughout the world. Some are faiths with a very concentrated following in specific geographic areas, while others span the entire globe and have enormous numbers of followers. Each of the world’s major religions has definite distinctions that set themselves apart from others and that make them unique. These religions, however, all follow the same basic morals and guidelines that are quite similar.

The most widely followed faith on the planet is Christianity. Followers of Christianity believe that God sent his own son Jesus to earth to save them from their own sinful ways. They believe that Jesus was killed for his teachings and was then resurrected after lying in a tomb for three days. The main Christian holy day is celebrated on the day Jesus rose from the dead. This day is known as Easter Sunday and is the center of the entire faith. The ultimate goal for Christians is to have their souls join God in heaven when they die where they will live forever in eternal happiness.

Christianity is broken up into three different groups that follow similar beliefs but do differ on some. Roman Catholics are the first type. They make up the largest single faith in Christianity. Catholics are united under their leader, the Pope who resides in Rome. They interpret meaning from the Bible to use in everyday life. Roman Catholic scholars, who spend their lives interpreting ...

... middle of paper ...

...s teachings say that all of life is suffering and that this suffering is caused by desire. He said that the only way to end suffering is to end desire and to end desire you must follow the Eight Paths of Enlightenment. There are other smaller groups of religious beliefs like Confucianism, which is basically a respect for elders. Most people in Japan follow this belief. Animism is a faith followed by more primitive cultures throughout Africa and Asia. This centers on the fact that spirits inhabit everything in nature and are thus worshipped for it.

Religion remains a crucial part of world politics. It is the driving force behind much of today’s biggest problems, and until everyone learns to respect one another’s differences this unnecessary violence will continue.

Dalai Lama Quote

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_religion.html#vM6qqb6vc2q3bDQk.99

Show More
Related

  • What Is Religion?

    1612 Words  | 4 Pages

    What is religion? Each person’s definition of religion is different. Each person’s faith is different. This is a question that has been asked for centuries, and regardless of the answer given there is no right or wrong answer. Religion can be defined as a group of people who have shared beliefs who feel their life has purpose or meaning. This feeling or belief that their life has meaning can come from outside of themselves, as well as within. Taking this one step further, these shared beliefs put into action in the form of worship, can be easily identified because they happen regularly. It can be said the Primal religions were in fact not religions. Some may argue Confucianism is not a religion. Others may say Taoism is not a religion. However, one argument can be made. All three of these “religions” share “features.” Huston Smith, author of World’s Religions, says “six features of religion appear so regularly as to suggest that their seeds are in the human makeup.” These six features discussed in World’s Religions are as follows: authority, ritual, explanation, tradition, grace, and mystery (World’s, Page 67). First is authority, Smith argues religion is so complex that people will need assistance or guidance from those held in a higher light, or of a higher authority. Next is ritual, which can be happy (a wedding) or sad (a funeral), rituals are shared between people of the same religion in many forms as a sign of common beliefs. Following rituals, some explanation is required. Many of a religion’s followers ask for explanations, some ask, “What is my purpose in life?” Others may ask, “Who is God?” Depending on one’s religion, the questions or

    Read More

  • World Religion: Christianity the Most Widespread Religion in The World

    1475 Words  | 3 Pages

    Christianity is the most widespread religion in the world with two billion followers. Many aspects of Christianity are based on Judaism (Tiemann 526). Christianity is based on the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christ’s message to everyone is personal salvation and also promises faith and love triumphs over sin and death. The origins of Christianity are based on the book that Christians read, the Holy Bible. Christians believe the Bible is God’s word. In the Bible, God talks about The Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments are agreements between God and his chosen people. Christianity is an example of monotheism. What makes up the God that Christians believe is God the Father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit. The three of these makes up the Trinity of Christianity (Brown 76). Some of the Christian practices are gathering at churches for worship, fellowship and engage in the world through evangelism. One of the beliefs that Christians have is Jesus will come back to earth and take those who believe in Him back to Heaven.

    Read More

  • Eastern vs. Western Religion

    787 Words  | 2 Pages

    Religion, “part of the human experience that has to do with a god or gods, a higher power, or the ultimate values of life” (Cason & Tillman 6-7), is one of the most controversial and interesting subjects for humanity. It has been around for as long as anyone can recall and they have difference and similarities in their founders, beliefs, and history. Religion has served to give some sort of a meaning to life and everything around it. In modern society, some religions have grown and expanded significantly. These larger religions have been classified as world religions. In addition, these world religions have been split into two categories known as Eastern and Western religion.

    Read More

  • The Morality Of Christianity: The Nature Of God And Christianity

    1811 Words  | 4 Pages

    According to a Christian, there is one true God, and he revealed Himself through the Holy trinity, which is made up of three people; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They also believe that God alone created the world and everything that encompasses it from nothing in six days. They believe that the world was good until Adam sinned against God, and now all people are born into sin. They believe that God sent his only son Jesus to save the world from sin and that Jesus died for all their sins and rose from the dead. They believe that the Holy bible is the sacred word before and after Jesus’s time and that they should live by it to please God and thank him for his son. They believe that people are saved by faith through the grace of Jesus Christ.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Religion In This Believing World: The Believing World

    851 Words  | 2 Pages

    “What is it, this thing we call Religion? Whence did it come? And why? And how? What was it yesterday? What is it today? And what will it become tomorrow?” the writer, philosopher, and rabbi, Lewis Browne asked in his 1926 work, “This Believing World.”

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Catholism And Christianity

    1615 Words  | 4 Pages

    Christianity is mainly founded on the life, death, teachings, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christianity was developed from Judaism during the 1st century, it has several different branches and forms which accompany different beliefs and practices. Christianity

    Read More

  • Summary Of Living Buddha, Living Christ By Thích Nh At Hanh

    808 Words  | 2 Pages

    He also makes reference to the long history of religious intolerance and persecution within the Christian tradition, brought about by greed, mistrust, and ignorance. He emphasizes the need for continuous practice, prayer, meditation, mindfulness, and personal growth within individual religious traditions and cultures. We must make the spirit of the Buddha and the spirit of Christ part of our everyday lives. He explores the “Five Wonderful Percepts of Buddhism”: reverence for life, generosity, responsible sexual behavior, speaking and listening deeply, and ingesting only wholesome substances; comparing them to the teachings of Christ. These precepts are without a doubt, very similar to the principles thought by Christ and his apostles. Each precept or teaching works with the next, interconnecting and building upon each other toward the same goal to end suffering, bring about personal and worldly understanding, world peace, and spiritual

    Read More

  • Early Christianity

    550 Words  | 2 Pages

    Christianity is now in our modern world one of the five major religions. The other major religions include Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism from which Christianity descended. Christianity was practiced before Christ, During his life, and after his life. After Christ¹s life Christianity spread to become a main world religion.

    Read More

  • Essay On The Da Vinci Code

    2502 Words  | 6 Pages

    Religion has a great influence on people, providing faith and direction to each individual while controlling a co...

    Read More

  • Seven Dimensions of Religion in Buddhism

    1389 Words  | 3 Pages

    Smart, Ninian. "Blackboard, Religion 100." 6 March 2014. Seven Dimensions of Religion. Electronic Document. 6 March 2014.

    Read More

  • Role Of Religion And Religion In The World

    1410 Words  | 3 Pages

    In discussions of whether the world would be a more peaceful place without religions, one controversial issue has been placing blame on one’s own religion when wars or conflict ending in violence has occurred. The question is asked,. Does religion play a role in the violence going on around the world? On the one hand, many people may agree with this belief and argue that religion in a way has always played a role in the amount of violence in our society. On the other hand, the public contends that as humans we know what we are doing and our religion has nothing to do with the violence that we create.

    Read More

  • Christianity And Christianity: The History Of Christianity

    963 Words  | 2 Pages

    The history of Christianity is one that can be traced from the beginning of time. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1 English Standard Version). The foundation of this religion is build upon the birth, life, death, and resurrection of a man named Jesus. Many Christians believe that he is the Son of God. Further, most additionally would agree that he is the second person in the trinity.

    Read More

  • Ten Commandments Research Paper

    1314 Words  | 3 Pages

    Christianity is a religion based off of the teachings of Jesus Christ, known as the Son of God and “the Anointed One”. It teaches us that there is and continues to be but one divine God of our universe who died on the cross for our sins. We all, as human beings, live in a broken world where only he can save us. Through a combination of reading passages of the Bible, a collection of Christian scriptures, prayer, and worship one can reach salvation and live with him in the everlasting kingdom of heaven. Christianity is based on having a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, our savior.

    Read More

  • Why is Religion Important?

    443 Words  | 1 Pages

    Religion is the one element of life that has connected the races and societies of the world for hundreds of years. It has given meaning to lives that may seem otherwise hopeless. Religion has provided for a universal language and culture among those who believe in a higher power. The spirit or being receiving the worship and praise may not be the same, but the practices are usually similar and serve the same purpose--to give direction, insight, courage, and a divine connection.

    Read More

  • Essay About Religion

    1117 Words  | 3 Pages

    Religion is one of the most influential factors that structures people's point of view in the modern world. People become aware of the concept of religion from their early ages. The fact that children more often than not inherit their religious beliefs from their parent...

    Read More

More about Why Is Religion Important?

Open Document